Chapter Seventeen ~ Missing You

I was waiting, waiting for life, waiting for death. Either would have been a significant improvement to what laid before me. It had been two weeks since he had saved me from the band of criminals who had kidnapped me in order to lure him to Nicholas Lovof. Honestly, the man wasn't all that scary from what the reports make him out to be. He just turned out to be another fat pig who wanted to stay that way behind these ivory walls. I shuddered at the thought of the man stopping us from our expeditions, stopping us from saving humanity from the threat of the titans. But now he was dead, just a pile of ash and bone, his influence no longer to be felt against the Scouting Regiment.

It had been two weeks since the man I loved, nearly died. Thanks to Hanje and the medical team, they managed to stop the bleeding and fix him up as best as they possibly could. They even got help from one of the best doctors within the three walls. Doctor Grisha Jaeger kept a close and careful eye on Levi as his wounds healed, even tending to his ribs which had been broken by the vicious beating that Gabriel had dealt him. He was optimistic that Levi would wake up soon, but he had said that during the first few days of Levi being unconscious. He had said that as he left, giving Hanje precise instructions on keeping his vital signs as he had other patients to attend to in Wall Sina. Only to send for him if there was a drastic improvement, no matter which way it seemed it would go. Either way, Doctor Jaeger would come back, either to witness his death, or his new lease on life. Two weeks of constant care, yet it yielded nothing.

I just couldn't understand why he wasn't waking up. He was just a shell of his former self, his raven black hair hanging lifelessly around his pale features, his cheeks hollowed and his eyes sunken in slightly and held tightly shut. He had lost a lot of weight, but that was to be expected since he wasn't eating at all. I was managing to give him mouth treatment which just consisted of giving him water with a wet sponge at his mouth. But even that didn't seem to help. His pale lips parted as he breathed slowly. My eyes moved down the column of his neck, across his tightly bandaged chest, holding his ribs in place while they healed, across tight muscled, yet still bruised abdomen. His legs disappearing down under the bedsheets. I had requested they move him into his own room since I knew if he did wake up, that he wouldn't appreciate the amount of dust in the infirmary. I nursed him, giving him sponge baths, changing his sheets. Rolling him every so often under Doctor Jaeger's instructions, so that he didn't develop bed sores from being stuck in one position for too long. Yet nothing I was doing helped, nothing helped him wake up.

I sighed, despite the man's flaws, and he had many, he still came for me. He came for me and this is what he got to show for his heroism. My heart broke as I tried to recall his low monotone voice, but I couldn't remember it. I couldn't even remember the way his eyes would light up when he called me a brat, how he would smile when I called him short. How he would laugh when I said something stupid, like Levi being afraid of holes. All these beautiful memories were tarnished because I couldn't remember his beautiful voice. I missed my Levi so much that my heart shattered even more with every passing day that he wouldn't wake up.

Nothing Hanje recommended to wake him up worked. I tried talking to him, having the weirdest conversations with him about how I cleaned his room from top to bottom, how I knew he would probably slap me if he found out that I hadn't been eating properly. I tried reading to him, just some stupid books about the outside world, explaining how the world was covered in a deep body of water called the ocean, giant forests and dunes of sand. I tried aroma therapy, lighting candles of Levi's favourite scents, I even wafted my tea at him but that still did nothing. I even tried an unorthodox arousal therapy that Hanje had read about. I had carefully straddled his hips as I brought his limp, cold hands down my body before resting them on my hips. I even tried running my hands down his body, careful to avoid his healing chest, I pressed my lips against his cold ones but nothing happened. Not even a twitch of his eyebrows or the slightest bit of pressure against my lips. Tears spilled over my eyes as I knelt my head down on his shoulder, just in the crook of his neck.

"Please Levi... Please wake up," I whimpered, my breathing heaving into heart breaking sobs as I laid gently on my poor clean freak, "Please come back."

Three weeks into Levi's unconsciousness and Hanje was a frequent visitor. Although she wasn't a doctor, she kept a close eye on Levi as she didn't exactly trust the other medical staff. The only persons she actually trusted with Levi's care was myself and Doctor jaeger. She made sure to check on his vitals every morning, noon and night. Her eyes cast downward on her watch as she lifted his hand and placed two fingers to his pulse point, timing the seconds as she calculated his pulse. A sigh escaped her lips as she placed his hand back on the bed, covering him back up with the bedsheet. She paced the edge of the bed as she noted down his vitals on a chart, hanging it back off the bed post.

"He's no better, but he hasn't gotten any worse," she explained as she squeezed my shoulder tightly. I smiled up at her, knowing all to well that the smile didn't reach my now healed eyes.

"I just want him to wake up. To yell at me for not cleaning this disgusting room multiple times a day," I giggled, a tear falling down my cheek, "I just want him back." Hanje smiled back at me, opening her arms as I stood and wrapped my arms around the taller woman.

"I know. The place is so quiet without his incessant yelling about how dusty it is," she chuckled, resting her chin on my forehead. I buried my head in her chest, tears silently falling down my cheeks. We stayed like this for a while before she broke away, her eyes sombre and tear filled, "You know there might be a chance he could still..." she trailed off, her voice cracking as she swallowed, a single tear slowly trickling down her cheek, steaming up her glasses.

I pulled away from her, sitting back down next to Levi, placing my warm hand in his cold one, rubbing soothing circles across the taunt skin across his knuckles, "I am prepared for it, have been for two weeks now," I mumbled. I had been prepared for the fact that he might die since we got back. Every night I would stay awake, telling him if he needed to go that it would be okay, that I would be okay. I had cried into his shoulder as I had whispered to him that I would always love him no matter what happened, that I would always cherish him in my heart.

I knew straight from the beginning that there was a seventy five percent chance that Levi would die. Hanje made sure that nothing was kept from me, that I knew everything so I could mentally prepare myself.

"I hope for you sake it doesn't happen. Don't worry about Commander Shardis, I will keep him away," She murmured, swiping her tears and taking her glasses off from her face and cleaned away the steam, "He just doesn't understand how much this SHORTARSE, CLEANING OBSESSED MORON, means to us," she said, shouting her insults toward the unconscious man beside me. He didn't stir, he didn't wake and shout at the woman for insulting him, he just laid silent, his light breathing the only sound in the room.

I smiled half-heartedly at her, "Thanks," I whispered.

Commander Shardis wanted us to stop wasting valuable resources on a 'lost cause' until Erwin stepped in, explaining the ravenette's value and how we needed to try everything to save humanity's last hope against the titans. Of course the Commander argued this, but Erwin again stepped in, forcing the Commander to see sense that Levi was well and truly humanity's strongest soldier, and that he deserved as much of a chance as anyone else. Mike relinquished his hold of the title willingly, settling for being humanity's second strongest while I was given the title of humanity's strongest female soldier, which I was fairly appalled by, all things considering. Before all of this, I would have been soaking up the fame like a sponge, but now, I couldn't give a shit if I was one of humanity's strongest or not.

"I will leave you two alone now. Remember Erwin will be coming in shortly. Call me if anything changes," Hanje stated, her voice soft as she placed a loving arm around me, pulling me close, "He's put it off as long as he could. But he needs to write up that report on what went down."

I nodded, glancing at my hands as my thumb ran over his knuckles. Hanje left the room, her footsteps dying away as she left me alone with the unconscious man again. I leaned in and pressed my lips to his forehead. A tear falling onto his face, but I quickly dabbed it away. I sat back down and grabbed the sponge and cup of water that sat on the bedside table and dipped the sponge into the water. I carefully leaned over the man, careful not to lean on him as I dripped water through his lips, his mouth glistening as the water fell through and coated his dry tongue.

It didn't take long before there was a short, sharp rap at the door.

"Come in," I called, dipping the sponge back into the water and repeating the process. The door squeaked open as a sombre looking, tall blonde stepped in, making a mental not to oil the hinges of the door. His form rather casual as he wasn't wearing his uniform. He wore a brown jacket over a casual blue shirt and brown trousers with black dress shoes. His hair dishevelled and not combed to one side, his eyes sorrowful as he glanced over to the bed where the ravenette laid lifeless. He shuffled his feet along the wood as he came up beside me, pulling up a chair. The legs dragging along the wood flooring, the sound grating against my ears. I frowned at the scraping wood, noticing the mark it left of the polished floorboards.

"How is he today?" he asked, running a hand through his dishevelled blonde hair, his eyes assessing Levi with his concerned gaze. I knew Erwin felt guilty for what happened to Levi, despite him having no control over the situation as it stood. However, he still felt responsible due to the fact that he allowed Levi to beat the shit out of Lovof.

I turned my head to face the man, taking in the anguished depths of his dull blue eyes, despite how stoic his features remained. "No change, heartrate is within normal range, his breathing rate is normal but a little shallow, and the wound is healing well with no sign of infection. Pupil reflexes are still reactive and his temperature is normal," I recounted, smiling lightly at the blonde.

"And what about you? How are you?" he questioned, his eyes running over my thinner form. I hadn't eaten properly since I had gotten back because I had been too busy trying to look after Levi. Oh how mad he would be if he found out I hadn't been taking care of myself.

"I will be okay. But it depends on whether he wakes up as to how okay I will be," I explained, rubbing my temples gently with the tips of my fingers. Erwin was silent for a little while before he turned back to me, nodding his blonde head and returning my smile, "I have to ask you about this crap..."

"I know. Hanje explained that you couldn't put it off any longer and that the higher-ups want their report now," I interrupted, placing the sponge back into the cup and placing it back on the bedside table.

Erwin smiled wanly, taking out a pen and paper from his jacket pocket.

"Can you tell me what happened the day you were kidnapped?" he asked, his voice heavy with despair as he glanced at me warily, his pen poised over the paper.

I sighed and sat back in my chair, my hand finding Levi's cool fingers. Wrapping my hand around his as my thumb caressed his knuckles gently, "I agreed to train a cadet who turned out to be Gabriel. I was to train in him in the sparring fields while the other cadets were at dinner but he never showed. When I got there, there was no one in sight. I waited around for about ten minutes but when he didn't show, I turned to leave and that's all I can remember. I assume he knocked me out from behind and dragged me away," I murmured, my fingers tightening around Levi's. I frowned, I could have sworn I felt pressure against my hand but I shook it off. I must have imagined it, after all I was squeezing his hand pretty tight. I quickly cast a glance to his face, nothing had changed. His face still smooth, his breathing still soft as they escaped from his parted lips.

I turned back to Erwin as he penned all of what I said onto the piece of paper, his hand writing furiously, "And as you are aware, Levi came out to find you, but found your bracelet and shreds of your shirt. He ran back to us and asked for help that... that I refused," Erwin explained, his voice cracking slightly.

"And I don't blame you for refusing, after all it was late at night and there was a slim chance of you finding me in the first place, " I reassured. I knew he held this guilt close to his heart. I knew that he felt that what happened to me was all his fault. That he couldn't protect me, but in all honesty, I felt that his decision was brave. He made a tough call and didn't let his emotions get in the way of that decision. And for that I admired him.

Erwin shook his head slightly, "What can you tell me about what happened while you were in Gabriel's custody?"

I sighed again, thinking back to the torture I had endured in those short few days, "I was shackled in a basement, I can't tell you much about my surroundings since I was kept in the dark for the most part of it. Gabriel confirmed that he wanted to lure Levi to him, however at the time he failed to mention Lovof's name. He just kept mentioning 'the boss'. Two of his guards tortured me none stop, trying to pry any morsel of information out of me. One even came close to..." I squeezed my eyes shut at the memory of the larger of the two guards trying to rape me.

Erwin's pen stopped scratching on the paper, his eyes angered, his eyebrows raised in shock, "They tried to rape you didn't they?"

I nodded, unable to speak past the large lump that formed in my throat. My eyebrows pulled down into a frown as I felt more pressure on my hand, but I shook it off again and released my grip from Levi's hand. Erwin grunted, his eyebrows pulling down over his eyes, totally eclipsing them in rage.

"Yes they did. But I managed to fight them off. They beat me because of how hard I fought against them. I managed to gain enough intel about how they were planning to kill Levi because he didn't finish the job. From there I managed to work out that it was Lovof's work. Levi killed the two who had tortured me and managed to get me out of the basement, however Kenny managed to get the drop on Levi and hit him multiple times around the head. And well, I guess you know the rest," I informed, resting my gaze back on the man laying before me.

Erwin nodded, placing his pen down and tucking the paper back into his pocket, "I think that will do. The Military Police will be able to use this to convict that piece of shit and either imprison him or execute him," he smiled wanly, placing a large hand over my knee, "I am just thankful we managed to get to you in time. Otherwise, I don't know what would have done."

I smiled back at him, "I know. I just wish no one had got hurt," I murmured, creasing my eyebrows, "What will happen to Kenny? Won't he get convicted?"

Erwin groaned, shaking his head, "Even with our multiple testimonies, there wasn't sufficient enough evidence to prove that he was actually there."

I grumbled under my breath, Not enough evidence my arse! Erwin nodded at my disapproval, "Well that is all I needed for my report. Doctor Jaeger will be arriving tomorrow to check up on him," he informed, scrubbing his face with his hands.

I nodded and smiled half-heartedly at the man, he bowed his head, his eyes glistening, "I just want to say I am sorry Levi," he murmured as he stood and placed his hand on Levi's other hand, "I should have listened to you from the start my friend. Maybe then this wouldn't have happened to you."

I stood and walked over to the blonde, placing a hand on stubbled cheek, "There is no way of knowing that. Remember have no regrets," I reassured, kissing him lightly on the cheek. His eyes closed for a moment before he nodded.

"I said the same thing to Levi two months or so back," he chuckled turning to leave.

"I know he told me," I smirked, giggling at the man.

Erwin sighed, reaching into his pocket, "I guessed as much. Look he told me to give this to you should anything happen. I didn't give it to you straight away because I thought he would recover quickly, however that doesn't seem to be the case. I haven't touched it, I just hope you don't have to open it," He said as he left, handing my the soft cream envelope with Levi's neat scrawl on the front, "I hope he comes back to you."

The door closed quietly behind the blonde as I sat back on the chair, holding Levi's hand in mine. I ran my finger under the seam of the envelope, opening it up. There was a single folded sheet of thick paper. I unfolded the sheet and read through Levi's words.

To my dearest (F/N),

If you are reading this then unfortunately, the rescue mission didn't go as well as I had initially planned, that's not necessarily meaning I am dead, but it is very likely. I am sorry that this happened to you and I know that I can never forgive myself for what happened. I let you out of my sight and this is what happened. I should have known that Lovof would have come after me sooner or later. And because of my stupidity, I put you at risk. And for that I am so sorry.

I want to tell you that, well, I love you so much. I am sorry that I didn't tell you that enough. I am sorry that I am such a shitty person in general, you deserve so much better than me. You deserve a man who will bring you flowers everyday and write you little notes just to tell you that he is thinking of you. But I can promise you that if I am alive, that I will try and change. I will try and be happier for you because I know how much my scowling all the time brings you down, how my constant insults make you doubt yourself and lowers your self esteem. I can't promise a miracle but I will try and come damn close. I promise you that. As I have told you once before, I have never loved anyone the way I love you, and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to protect you and keep you from harms way.

If I am not alive then I want to apologise for the shit that I have and will put you through. It will get easier with time, that much I know. I know it will be hard and you will go back into your shell, you will treat people differently, hell you may even turn into a grumpy shit like I am. But promise me that you will come to love eventually. Promise me that you will find someone who will love you like I would have done. Someone who you can give children to and be the most loving person to until the day you part from this world. I will be waiting for you on that day.

On that day when you come up to join me, I will have you back in my arms. I am just sorry I couldn't give you the life that I wanted to give you, the life that I promised for us. I know I am shitty with words but I hope you can understand everything I have said. I love you with every fibre of my being and I will never ever stop loving you brat.

With all of my love, forever and always,

Levi

Tears fell down my face as I stared at the man who was deadly still beside me. His letter crushed to my chest as sobs heaved through my body. I climbed onto the bed and placed my forehead against Levi's bare shoulder. My heart beating heavily in my chest as I sobbed into his shoulder, my tears falling onto his cool skin, how could he think such cruel things about himself? It broke my heart to know that he thinks that way. If he... no... when he pulls through this I am going to make sure to tell him how he really makes me feel! I declared, my fingers still entwined with his as I cried myself into a fitful sleep, dreaming of that day. The events replaying in my head over and over again, the day I almost lost him.

...

I raced after Hanje and the medical team. Erwin hot on my heels as I fought through the countless soldiers in order to be beside Levi. They all tried to stop me, I didn't care how many I had to fight through, I would fight through the Titans themselves if I had to. I would be by his side. Levi has been so alone for most of his life, I wouldn't allow him to be alone any more. He doesn't deserve to be alone. Erwin's thundering voice shouted behind me, but his pleas fell on deaf ears as I powered through.

Hanje turned around, her glasses catching against the bright sunlight. Her hands working furiously as she packed as much gauze into Levi's wound as she could. Her fingers trembling as she pushed her glasses up her nose, blood coating her finger tips. I clambered up onto the carriage and collapsed beside her, my eyes falling on hers as she glanced up at me disapprovingly as the horses began to move forward.

"(F/N), you need to go back to Erwin, now!" She ordered, her eyebrows furrowing as she glowered at me.

I placed my palms on the gauze and pinned the woman with piercing gaze, "I am sorry Hanje, but respectfully, I will have to disobey your orders," I hissed, placing pressure on the wound on Levi's chest, "I will assist you in whatever you need, just please don't send me away."

Hanje pursed her lips, a sigh escaping through her nose as she stared down at the dying man before us. She shook her head, her brunette hair flopping limply around her shoulders, "Okay," she whispered.

I nodded, a small, tight smile appearing on my lips, "What do I need to do?" I asked as I cast my eyes down to the ravenette. He looked so peaceful, as if he were no longer troubled with the pain. His frown line had completely disappeared and his face had smoothed out completely, giving off the illusion that he was younger than he actually was. Blood continued to seep out of his chest, soaking the gauze and trickling down in rivulets down to the wooden flooring of the carriage. His hands resting by his sides, his chest barely rising and falling, his breathing rasping through his blue tinted lips.

"Just keep pressure on the gauze," she mumbled as she pressed her ear to his chest, her features anxious, "He still has a heartbeat. It is very faint, he is definitely fighting to hang on."

"How exactly are you going to save him?" I asked, my lips pursed tightly to keep them from quivering. I knew that Levi couldn't indefinitely hang on, without help he would surely die. I bit my lip, drawing blood, the very thought of Levi dying was unbearable. I couldn't lose him, not now.

"Mike has ridden ahead, he is sending for the best doctors within the walls. Hopefully one of them will be able to get to HQ before..." she trailed off, her cheeks flushed and her glasses began to steam up as a few tears spilled out of the corners of her large eyes.

I shook my head, my hair caressing my shoulders as I stared down at Levi. Please, hang on...

...

"I am sorry but there is nothing I can do," A doctor from Wall Sina mumbled, twiriling his moustache as he spoke, "He is too far gone, lost too much blood. There is no possible way to save him."

A growl escaped my chest as I grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket, thrusting him up against the wall of the room, "How can you say he is too far gone! How is he alive if he is too far gone! He should have died ages ago from the sheer amount of blood loss, yet he is still fighting! So you can shut up and shove your apologies up your pompous arse and help him!" I seethed, my hands tightening as I lifted him off the ground. My teeth gnashed together and bared, my fists shaking as the muscles in my arms screamed for me to put the potbellied man down.

"(F/N)! He is not worth it!" Hanje growled as she put a hand on my shoulders, "Just put him down!"

I turned my face to the brunette woman, a sigh escaping my lips as I uncurled my fingers from the man and stepped back as he crumpled to the ground. His frightened eyes flickered from me to Hanje to Erwin, who was leaning against the wall. His dull blue eyes fixed on the man lying in the bed to my left.

"You can either try and help him or fuck off!" I growled as I stomped out of the room. I shut the door behind me and pressed my back flat against the wall. My eyes focused on the low, wooden ceiling. My breathing coming in short pained gasps, my eyes stinging and my chest tight. I buried my face in my hands as I slid down the wall, crumpling on the cold stone floor. Dry sobs wracked through my body as I brought my knees to my chest.

That was the last doctor from Wall Sina. There was no one else. They had all said the same thing, that Levi couldn't be helped. Levi was going to die because they can't get off their fat arses and help. More like they aren't skilled enough to help him and that we cannot pay them enough to help one person. The Commander just wanted us to give up. Throw in the towel and put the man out of his misery. But I refused, I wanted to get him the best help, yet all I kept getting was shitty doctors telling me that it is impossible to save him.

The door opened and footsteps came around the door, the sound of material scraping down the walls as they came to sit beside me. A strong arm wrapped around my shoulders, I rested my head against his broad shoulder and pressed my face into his neck. His other arm wrapped around me, his fingers sifting through my hair, carefully detangling the mess around my shoulders.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered, opening my blurry eyes to meet his dull blue gaze. His eyes were clouded with grief as he placed his lips against my forehead, "There is one more doctor who will take a look at him. He is coming from Shiganshina district. Hopefully he will be able to help him," he murmured, his face falling, "Otherwise, I am afraid there will be nothing more we can do. We may be able to wait it out and see if he heals on his own, or it might just be time to end his suffering."

I sobbed quietly, "I think you are right," I mumbled, feeling feather light caresses across my cheek, yet there was nothing there. I frowned and brushed my cheeks with my hands as I stared back up at the man before me, "If this doesn't work, I'll... I'll do it."

...

I woke up feeling feather light fingertips tracing my cheek. I grumbled under my breath, Hanje must have come back to check Levi's vitals before heading to bed and was trying to wake me up. The fingers continued to brush my cheek, the thumb circling my tired eyes and the fingers slowly trailed up into my soft (H/C) tendrils, twirling the strands of wavy hair around the fingers. I gradually opened my eyes, Levi's eyes were still closed. But he seemed different.

His cheeks were flushed and his frown line had appeared on his forehead. His lips held tightly shut as he breathed through his nose, his nostrils flaring slightly. I glanced down him, the hand I was holding kneading soothing circles into my knuckles. I turned my head to see his other hand on my cheek, tears springing to my eyes as I came to the realisation, Levi was awake. Well sort of.

A choked sob broke free from my throat, his eyes fluttering open slightly. His gorgeous steel blue eyes resting on my face as a small, pained smirk tugged on the corners of his lips.

"Hey brat," he croaked, his voice thick and raspy since he hadn't used it in so long. My hand flew up, cupping my mouth as tears spilled out my eyes, splattering across his shoulder. My sobs growing louder as I buried my head back into his shoulder, releasing his hand as he brought his arms slowly around me, cradling me to his chest tightly. He grunted in pain as he shifted in the bed and turned his face to bury his nose in my hair, inhaling deeply. I could feel his tears against my shoulder as he pressed his face into my shoulder, holding me in this position for a long while. One hand stroking down my back as his other twirled around the strands of my hair. We both cried for what seemed like hours before we finally were able to speak.

"I thought you were dead," I whispered, my heart catapulting against my ribcage, "I thought I lost you."

Levi pulled away, his stormy, tear-filled eyes searching mine, "I know and for that I am so, so sorry," he wheezed, clutching his chest gently with his hand. I pushed up on my elbows, balancing my weight on the arms, my eyes panicked, "Am I hurting you?"

He chuckled, wincing and squeezing his eyes shut, "No not at all brat, your fine. Come back here," he ordered, crushing me back to his chest. I gingerly laid back down next to him, pressing my forehead to his. He winced, lying that I wasn't hurting him but I took his word for it. I just hoped I wasn't causing him too much pain.

"Levi, the things you said in this letter..."

"Is all true," he whispered, closing his eyes briefly, his breath stuttering slightly as he breathed through the pain.

I sighed, "Please let me finish," I whispered as I glanced at him. He nodded his head and was silent, awaiting what I had to say, "Levi, there is no man I want more than you, and you don't have to change a single thing about yourself in order to try and please me. Truth is, I love your scowl, it never brings me down. To be honest if you smiled at me all the time then I would think that there was something seriously wrong with you. I love the small smiles I get when I say something funny or when you are trying to be romantic. Those smiles, I know are reserved for me and only me. As for your insults, well I like them. I hate pet names so I would rather be called a brat than honey or sweetheart. I love that I am your brat and I hope that it will never change. The only man I want a life with is you. If you had died, I would never love again," I explained, holding the crushed letter away from my chest.

"Well it's a good thing I am not dead then, looks like you don't need this shitty thing after all," he muttered, his breath catching in his throat at my lengthy declaration to him. He took the crumpled letter from me and ripped it up into several pieces. I was about to protest when he placed his hand on my cheek and brought my lips to his. The kiss soft and weak but it still held all the passion of the kisses before it. It was sweet and conveyed everything that Levi had said in the letter. His love pouring from his soul into the kiss as his lips moulded with mine. He pulled away, his eyes hooded with love, "I love you brat and I promise I will never leave you again."

I smiled, "And I love you too Levi, just the way you are," I whispered as I brought my lips back to his. I heard an ecstatic cheer from behind the door, "SHORTY IS ALIVE!" causing a chuckle to rumble through both our chests as we resumed our reunion.